Despite helming the massive critical and commercial success that is The Hunger Games, director Gary Ross has now officially left the franchise, and will confirmed that he will not be stepping back behind the camera to direct The Hunger Games’ planned sequel; Catching Fire.
While there were rumours of pay disputes (it’s understandable that Ross may have wanted a bump in his pay-packet after The Hunger Games became so much bigger than anyone expected), the official statement from Ross puts his decision to exit down to simple timing; “as a writer and a director I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.”
After calling The Hunger Games “the happiest experience of my professional life”, Ross also confirmed that “contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic”, adding that the studio had been “very understanding of me in this difficult decision.”
Just about every up-and-coming director will now likely be vying for the opportunity to direct Catching Fire; which, thanks to Fox’s re-scheduling of the X-Men: First Class sequel’s shoot, will once again star Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, has been scripted by Slumdog Millionaire’s Simon Beaufoy, is scheduled to shoot this coming fall, and is due to be released on November 22nd 2013; and there’s no doubt we can expect an imminent slew of rumours, and shortlists, letting us know who the probable candidates are.
Matt Wheeldon.
Source: Variety.
